Ulster Railway
Introduction
This line built by this former railway company forms a part of the Belfast to Dublin main line, the northern portion between Belfast Great Victoria Street and Portadown. The later built portion of the Ulster Railway from Portadown to Clones is closed.
Dates
| / /1839 | Ulster Railway Incorporated. |
| 12/08/1839 | Ulster Railway Opened from Belfast [Glengall Place] to Lisburn. Contractor William Dargan. The gauge was 6ft 2in. |
| 18/11/1841 | Ulster Railway Extended from Lisburn to Lurgan. |
| 31/01/1842 | Ulster Railway Extended from Lurgan to Seagoe (temporary terminus). |
| 12/09/1842 | Ulster Railway Extended from Seagoe to Portadown [1st] (east side of the River Bann). |
| / /1845 | Ulster Railway New Act re-authorised Portadown [1st] to Armagh. |
| / /1847 | Portadown and Dungannon Railway Authorised. Supported by the Ulster Railway. |
| / /1847 | Ulster Railway Original track converted to 5ft 3in. |
| /01/1847 | Ulster Railway Doubled with the addition of a single track of 5ft 3in gauge, initially used for goods. |
| / /1848 | Ulster Railway Portadown [2nd] replaces the Portadown [1st] terminus (further to the north east over the River Bann). Line extended through Portadown [2nd] to Armagh. (The Portadown [1st] building survives for some years, passed on its north side by the extension.) |
| / /1849 | Ulster Railway Portadown Junction to Armagh doubled. |
| 06/01/1852 | Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway Isolated portion opened south from Portadown Junction (Ulster Railway) to a temporary terminus, Newry Armagh Road (later Mullaghglass or Mullaglass). |
| / /1854 | Ulster Railway Belfast [Glengall Place] renamed Belfast Victoria Street. |
| / /1855 | Cavan Branch (Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway) Branch from Clones to Cavan authorised. The line was subscribed to by the Ulster Railway, Dublin and Drogheda Railway and Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway. |
| / /1855 | Ulster Railway Extension from Armagh to Monaghan authorised. |
| / /1856 | Ulster Railway Extension from Monaghan to Clones authorised. |
| / /1856 | Ulster Railway Belfast Victoria Street renamed Belfast Great Victoria Street. |
| / /1858 | Ulster Railway Armagh to Monaghan opened. |
| 05/04/1858 | Portadown and Dungannon Railway Opened from Portadown Junction (Ulster Railway) to Dungannon [1st]. |
| / /1863 | Ulster Railway Monaghan to Clones opened. The original Monaghan station, left on a short branch by the extension, is replaced. Double track used throughout. |
| / /1863 | Ulster Railway Portadown [3rd] opens by the site of the original Portadown [1st] (probably demolished at this time). Portadown [2nd] closed. |
| / /1863 | Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Railway Opened from Knockmore Junction (Ulster Railway) to Banbridge (Banbridge Junction Railway). |
| / /1864 | Belfast Central Railway Incorporated. Plans included a railway linking the Ulster Railway, Belfast and Northern Counties Railway and Belfast and County Down Railway lines and a central station on Victoria Street. |
| / /1871 | Dublin and Antrim Junction Railway Opened from Knockmore Junction (Ulster Railway) to Antrim. |
| / /1874 | Dungannon and Cookstown Railway Incorporated. Supported by Ulster Railway and Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Railway. |
| / /1874 | Belfast Central Railway Opened to goods and minerals from Central Junction [Belfast] (also known as Ulster Junction with the Ulster Railway) to East Bridge Junction (branch to Queen's Bridge on the west bank of the River Laggan) and Ballymacarrett Junction (Belfast and County Down Railway) and Abercorn Basin. |
| / /1876 | Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Railway Absorbed by Ulster Railway. |
| / /1876 | Ulster Railway Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland]. |
| / /1901 | Ulster Railway Portadown [3rd] rebuilt as a four platform station. |
| / /1909 | Ulster Railway Adelaide Marshalling Yard opened. |
| / /1911 | Ulster Railway Adelaide Shed opened, replacing the older shed at Belfast Great Victoria Street, alongside Adelaide Marshalling Yard. The older shed's site allowed expansion of Grosvenor Road Goods. |
| / /1932 | Ulster Railway Monaghan to Clones singled. |
| / /1934 | Ulster Railway Richhill to Armagh singled. |
| / /1942 | Ulster Railway Brownstown Metal Box Factory opened at Brownstown Crossing (south of Portadown Junction). |
| 01/10/1957 | Ulster Railway Passenger trains from Portadown to Monaghan withdrawn. Closed from south of Brownstown Crossing to Glaslough. Northern portion kept as a siding and for access to the Brownstown Metal Box Factory. |
| 14/10/1957 | Ulster Railway Monaghan to Clones closed to passengers. |
| / /1958 | Ulster Railway Glaslough to Monaghan closed. |
| 01/01/1960 | Ulster Railway Monaghan to Clones closed. |
| / /1965 | Ulster Railway Grosvenor Road Goods closes. |
| 14/02/1965 | Ulster Railway Closed from Portadown Junction to Brownstown Crossing and Brownstown Metal Box Factory. |
| / /1970 | Ulster Railway Portadown - Craigavon West opened on the site of Portadown [2nd], Portadown [3rd] closed. |
| 26/04/1976 | Ulster Railway Belfast Great Victoria Street closed, replaced by Belfast Central. |
| / /1980 | Ulster Railway [Date uncertain] Portadown - Craigavon West renamed Portadown. |
| 30/09/1995 | Ulster Railway Belfast Great Victoria Street re-opened. A new north to east curve connected the station to the Belfast Central Railway. |
Portions of line and locations
This line is divided into a number of portions.
Belfast to Portadown
Translink Northern Ireland Railways unit no. 3015 on the right departing from Great Victoria Street station, Belfast with the 12.45 service to Larne ...David Bosher 30/07/2018
Translink Northern Ireland Railways unit no. 3015 just arrived at Great Victoria Street station, Belfast after its journey from Londonderry, at ...David Bosher 02/08/2018
Translink Northern Ireland Railways diesel unit no. 4020 at Great Victoria Street station, Belfast waiting to depart with a service to Portadown, on ...David Bosher 30/07/2018
Translink Northern Ireland Railways broad gauge (5 ft. 3 ins.) diesel unit no. 3002 at Great Victoria Street, Belfast, waiting to depart with the ...David Bosher 30/07/2018
A quiet period on Adelaide shed, Belfast, in August 1965, finds 'S' Class 4-4-0 no 171 relaxing in the yard. ...K A Gray 28/08/1965
'S' Class 4-4-0 no 171 stands in the sunshine on Adelaide shed, South Belfast, in the summer of 1965. ...K A Gray 28/08/1965
A NIR service to Belfast Central arrives at Adelaide in south Belfast in February 1988. The unit is one of nine members of NIR Class 450, built by ...John McIntyre /02/1988
A westbound NIR Class 80 DEMU approaches Adelaide station in Belfast in February 1988. ...John McIntyre /02/1988
Looking west at Adelaide station in Belfast in February 1988. The station was originally opened as Adelaide and Windsor until 1935. A container train ...John McIntyre /02/1988
CIE GM Diesel no 181 shunts in the yard at Adelaide in Belfast in February 1988. ...John McIntyre /02/1988
A southbound NIR DMU departs from Lambeg, County Antrim, in July 1986. The train is heading for Lisburn with a Belfast to Portadown service. ...John McIntyre /07/1986
The RPSI operated former GNRI 4-4-0 no 85 Merlin photographed heading west from Lisburn station, Northern Ireland, with a railtour in October ...John McIntyre /10/1987
No 48 stands at Lurgan in August 1965 with a train to Belfast Great Victoria Street. ...K A Gray 28/08/1965
This station was a terminus for the line from Belfast. Nothing remains of the terminus. It was located on the east bank of the River Bann and was approached from the north east. It closed with extension of the line to Armagh in 1848, the extension passing to the north of the terminus and a new...
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No 48 runs light engine through Portadown station in the summer of 1965. [Ref query 4553] ...K A Gray 28/08/1965
No 48 photographed standing just outside Portadown station in the summer of 1965, with the driver having a word with the signalman in Portadown North ...K A Gray 28/08/1965
No 56 calls at Portadown station on 29 August 1965 with the 8.55am Belfast Great Victoria Street - Dublin service. ...K A Gray 29/08/1965
No 56 takes water at Portadown in August 1965 with the 8.55am Belfast (Great Victoria Street) - Dublin train. ...K A Gray 29/08/1965
This junction as to the south west of the present Portadown station, on the main line from Belfast to Dublin. It was the junction, in 1852, between the Ulster Railway's Belfast to Armagh line and the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway. From 1858 it was also the junction for the...
MorePortadown Junction to Clones
Not all locations are listed!
This junction as to the south west of the present Portadown station, on the main line from Belfast to Dublin. It was the junction, in 1852, between the Ulster Railway's Belfast to Armagh line and the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway. From 1858 it was also the junction for the...
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